(Continued from yesterday)
‘Pan de Ladies’ was conceptualized as part of the Malabon City Government’s commitment to empower women, solo parents, and people with disabilities.
Mayor Lenlen Oreta himself believes that now is the best time to help women realize their full potential and that their place in society is not restricted in the four walls of a home.
Working as Pan de Ladies has definitely changed the lives of its members. Diane Alejo of Barangay San Agustin, for example, shared that the bread has added another set of products that she sells along with the food she cooks at home.
Alejo owns a small store that sells cooked meals that people can buy for breakfast or lunch. “I would sell food for my neighbors, and this has always been my main source of income. When I became a Pan de Lady, I was able to sell bread that my customers would buy as afternoon snacks,” she said.
The money she earns is what she uses for her only child. Alejo now has something extra to give for school and would even use the money to buy food for their household.
Maria Teresa Galo, 50, of Barangay Concepcion, doesn’t mind going around the neighborhood to sell bread. She would head to the BJMP bakery at 4 a.m. to buy pan de sal and would be done selling by around 9 a.m.
She would then proceed to her part-time job as housekeeper, admitting that she would also bring bread like pan de coco and Spanish bread to her employers who often buy from her.
Being a Pan De Lady has definitely helped her raise her two children (11 and 14 years old) and is a big help for a solo parent like her.
“It is truly a blessing to become one of the Pan De Ladies of Malabon! We are proud that even with this small livelihood endeavor, we have helped our family in so many ways,” said Galo.
“Aside from giving us additional income, it gave us dignity as we can contribute a lot more to the family and instilled discipline on us as we are now starting entrepreneurs.”